Professor Claire Warwick appointed Chair of Russell Group research committee

Professor Claire Warwick appointed Chair of Russell Group research committee (14 June 2017) Durham University's Professor Claire Warwick has been appointed as Chair of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research (PVCR) Committee of the prestigious Russell Group. The Russell Group represents 24 leading UK universities which are committed to maintaining the very best research, an outstanding teaching and learning experience and unrivalled links with business and the public sector. Here, Professor Warwick , Durham's Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), talks about her appointment and the key role that research plays in furthering understanding and innovation. Q: What is the role of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research Committee of the Russell Group and why is this important? The PVCR Committee is a relatively informal group, which meets every six months. We discuss current areas of interest, for example the Stern Report on the Research Excellence Framework (REF) - the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions - or the Industrial Strategy. We welcome visiting speakers from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) , the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) , and other areas of government and policy making. This allows us to share ideas among the different research intensive universities, and to be part of the discussion of current issues in government that are relevant to research. Q: What are the main issues that the Committee is likely to be dealing with?